Button stapler



March 26, 1957 `R. J. EHRLlcH 2,786,201

BUTTON STAPLER Filed Dec. 27, 1955 8 3 1 WPI@ l2 |7\ y 55:1

ited States rl`his patent pertains to an improved button stapler.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a magazine typestapling device which will hold a number of specially formed staples andis adapted to hold a button on a portion of fabric so that one of thestaples from said magazine may be forced through the holes of the buttonand clinched on the opposite side of the fabric, whereby the button isattached to vthe fabric by a single operation.

Another object is to provide means in connection with a stapling devicefor holding a button on fabric in a predetermined position so that astaple from the stapling device may be clinched through the button andthe fabric in one operation.

Still another object is yto provide a stapling device with a magazineadapted to hold staples of a type particularly adapted to secure abutton to fabric.

Still another object is to provide a series of preformed staples madewith a metal core covered with a plasticisable substance which willprevent corrosion of the metal and which can be colored in any suitablemanner.

A still further object is to provide a stapling device which has ananvil for clinching staples of the type mentioned and which has acentrally positioned edge clincher s-o that the sharp bottom edges ofthe staple legs are turned inwards, whereby they will not snag or cutother fabric.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

I attain the foregoing objects by means of the peculiar construction,the devices, parts and combinations of parts shown in the attacheddrawings in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a stapling deviceincorporating my improvements for stapling buttons to fabric;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the base of the stapler showing the clinchinganvil;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of said base;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the button holding clamp bar;

Figure 7 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a button holding staple, drawn on an enlargedscale;

Figure 9 is a front elevational view thereof;

Figure 10 is a section of said staple taken substantially on line 10-1()of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the stapling end of the stapler, drawnon an enlarged scale with the button holding clamp bar and anvil andportions of a button shown in section taken substantially on line 11-11of Figure 12;

Figure l2 is a front end view of the stapling mechanism of the staplerwith parts sectioned off substantially o l-ine 12-12 of Figure 1; and

Figure 13 is a transverse section of the rear portion of the base of thestapling mechanism, drawn on an enlarged scale and sectionedsubstantially on lines 13-13 of Figure 5.

tenti Similar numerals refer to similar parts in the several views.

The stapler 2 as here concerned is of a well known type having amagazine for holding a number of staples, including a slide 3, springmechanism to feed the staples toward the stapling plunger 5 and a cappiece 6 which operates the stapling plunger when depressed. The stapleralso includes a base 7 to which the magazine frame 8 and the top case 4are attached by a hinge structure 9 which includes a hinge pin 10.

The base 7 has an anvil 12 at its outer end provided with clinchingdepressions 11i which are transversely positioned and between which araised clinching point 15 is provided. The rear portion of the baseincludes a channel lr6 formed by raised laterally positioned anges 17.The base is provided with a transverse hole 18 in its rear portion toreceive hinge pin 1i?. The inner faces 20 of flanges i7 are providedwith serrations 21, and these contact the edges 24 of the rearportion ofthe button.

positioning bar 23 so as to detain it in various raised or loweredpositions relative to base 7.

The button positioning bar 23 has an enlarged outer head portion 26which is pierced with an enlongated transversely extending hole 27through which a staple may be driven to enter the holes of a button 28,which in turn is to be attached to fabric 29.

The rear end of bar 23 is provided with a transverse hinge bearing Stiwhich is adapted to receive and journal on hinge pin it).

The inner portion or core of each staple is made of metal of anysuitable type. The staple is U-shaped as shown particularly in Figures 9and 12 and includes a top 'oar 36 and two legs 37 depending therefrom.The metal core 35 is coated with a suitable pliant plasticisablecovering 3S which may be dyed various colors as desired. it is to beunderstood that staples of this type are made in groups which may be fedas a unit into the magazine of the stapler 2 in a manner well known tothe stapling art. These staples diifer from the usual wire staples,however, in that the core is attened transversely of the staple. Thisprovides a wider holding area on both the button and the fabric afterthe staple is clinched.

A spring 46 resiliently hinges case 8 upward from base 7, and spring 47urges cap piece 6 upward so that plunger 5 is withdrawn to normal openposition as shown in Figure 11.

ln use, since the magazine is maintained by said spring means above thebase 7, the throat 40 is normally open. Fabric 29 to which a button isto be attached is placed on the anvil within the throat area. Beforethis is done, however, the button holding bar 23 is raised as far aspossible above the anvil to admit both the fabric and the button. Theserrations 2l on the inner faces of ianges 17 hold this bar in raisedposition. The button is next placed in the position desired on thefabric and the button hold-down bar 23 moved downward onto the button.This bar then holds the button in position on the fabric. The button isthen rotated or moved slightly so that its holes 43 are aligned with theslotted opening 27 in the hold-down bar. Since the outer staple 45, aswell as plunger 5, are in register with opening 27 and depressions litthis adjustment positions the button so that the legs of staple 45,which is just below plunger 5, will enter the holes in the button andclinch in the anvil depressions ift.

The operation is completed by pressing .down on the cap piece 6 so thatthe plunger forces the foremost staple 45 in the magazine down throughthe'hold-down bar 23 and onto the button to position 45a so that itslegs 37 enter the holes 43 in the button 23 and are forced through thefabric 29 and at the same time contact the recess 14 in the anvil 12 sothat they are clinched as Patented Marr-26, 1957i- ,arsenal shown inFigure '12 with Itheir ends pointing inward toward each other. Contactof the ends with the raised portion 1S of the anvil further clinches theends inward and upward toward bar 36 so that the rough edges of theends'of the staple are clinched toward the bar 36.

The button is thereupon rrnly attached to the fabric, and since thestaple has a wide holding area attachment is maintained without damagingthe fabric.

,I claim:

y1. In a button stapler including a frame having a case including amagazine for holding staples, a base ineluding an anvil having stapleclinching depressions hinged at one end to said frame, a cap piecehinged at one end and having -its free end extending above said frameand operating a plunger arranged to force the forward staple from saidmagazine and drive the legs of said staple -downward into thedepressions of said clinching anvil, spring means normally separatingthe free end of said cap piece from said frame, and spring meansnormally hinging said frame from said base, to provide an open throatbetween said base and said trarne at their unhinged ends, in combinationwith a button positioning bar having an inner end hinged to said base,parallel lateral edges, and an enlarged head portion at its outer endprovided with a slot in register with said plunger and the clinchingdepressions in said anvii; said base having upturned lateral flangeswith longitudinal serrations on their inner faces adapted to yieldablyengage the lateral edges of said bar so that it will be held above saidanvil, when desired, to admit fabric and a button thereon into thestapler throat, and may be lowered to hold said button on said fabric indesired stapling position.

2. `In a button stapler including a frame having a case including amagazine for holding staples, a base includsaid frame, a cap piecehinged above said trarne operating a plunger arranged to 'force theIforward staple -from said magazine and drive the legs tof said stapledownward into the depressions of said clinching anvil, spring meansnormally separating said cap piece from said frame, second spring meansnormally separating the free ends of said frame and said base to providean open throat between said base and said frame `at their unhinged ends,-in combination with a button :positioning bar having an inner endhinged to said frame and base, parallel lateral edges, and an enlargedhead portion vatits outer end provided with a parallel slot in registerwith rsaid plunger and the clinching depressions 'in said anvil; saidbase having upturned lateral flanges Ywith'longitudinal serrations ontheir inner faces adapted to yieldably engage the lateral edges of saidbar so that it will be held above said anvil to admit fabric, and abutton thereon, into the stapler throat and may be lowered to hold saidbutton on said fabric in desired stapling position, said anvil having aclinching point between said staple clinching depressions adapted toturn ,the abutting edges of'the ends of clinched staple legs upward, toeliminate snagging edges on said staple points.

References Citedin the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,218Bernstein Aug. 27, 1895 623,163 Ketchum Apr. 18, 1899 715,317 Taege Dec.9, 1902 v950,496 Shields Mar. 1, 1910 1,675,004 Tabor June 26, 19282,309,763 Goodstein -Feb. 2, 1943

